Train Tour to Tibet

Arrive in Beijing. Upon your arrival, you will be met by your English speaking guide displaying your name. Transfer with guide to your first-class Beijing Holiday Inn Downtown Hotel in Beijing.

Day 02 Beijing (B, L)

Morning program takes you to Tian An Men Square and the Forbidden City, the residence of emperors for more than 500 years. Enjoy the famous cuisine at carefully-selected restaurant. Afternoon sightseeing features the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once prayed for good harvests.

Day 03 Beijing (B, L)

The highlight today is a visit to the Great Wall, a symbol of the Chinese ancient civilization. After enjoying a delicious lunch at our carefully-selected restaurant, you will visit the Ming Tombs, the burial grounds for the 13 Ming Dynasty emperors. On the way back to the hotel, you will have a short exterior visit to "the Birds Nest, Water Cube"---the main Olympic Stadium built for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Day 04 Beijing/Lhasa (B, L)

After breakfast, drive to visit the Summer Palace, a summer resort for Empress Dowager Ci Xi. Then you will visit the Gongwangfu Garden, the largest private mansion house in the Qing Dynasty. After that, you will explore the 'Hutong'(residential area) in a rickshaw and have a glimpse of traditional Beijing life. Transfer to the railway station to take the overnight soft-sleeper train to Lhasa.

Day 05 Beijing / Lhasa

Today you traverse the highest train pass in the world at over 5000m. Enjoy the scenery of jagged mountain peaks caped in ice and the permanently frozen Tibetan Plateau.

Day 06 Lhasa

Arrive in Lhasa in the late afternoon. You meet your tour guide at the railway station and transferred to your first-class Tibet Hotel and rest.

Day 07 Lhasa (B, L)

After breakfast you will take a guided tour to the immense Potala Palace built in the 7th century by the famous Tibetan king-Songtzen Gampo. The present one was built by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. It became known as the "Winter Palace" by the 1750, when the 7th Dalai Lama built the Norbulingka Park as his summer residence. After having a western-style lunch, you will visit Jokhang Temple, situated in the old section of Lhasa. King Songtzen Gampo built this temple in the mid-7th century A.D. Now it is the most sacred place in Tibet. Pilgrims come here to pay homage from all over Tibet. In the late afternoon, you will have a chance to stroll on Barkhor Street to mingle in the crowds and enjoy the market activity.

Day 08 Lhasa (B, L)

Full day sightseeing takes you to Drepung Monastery. "Drepung" in Tibetan means "the hill of rice" because this white Monastery looks like a big hill of rice. This monastery occupies an area of 150,000 square meters with 7700 lamas and becomes the largest monastery in Asia. After enjoying a local Tibet-style lunch, you will visit Norbulingka Park. In 1752, the 7th Dalai Lama built the first palace here for successive Dalai Lamas to carry out their political and religious activities during the summer season. Today Norbulingka has become a public park for picnicking, relaxing and entertainment. Continue to visit Sera Monastery. Sera means 'Hailstone' in Tibetan, and legend tells that it hailed during the foundation of this famous monastery.

Day 09 Lhasa / Chengdu (B, L)

After breakfast you are transferred to the airport for the flight to Chengdu -- Home of the Giant Panda. Check into 4-star Jinyu Sunshine Hotel. In the afternoon, take a leisure stroll at Jinli Old Street in Chengdu.

Day 10 Chengdu (B, L)

Full day tour takes you to visit Luodai Old Town. Known as the "first Hakka town in western China", Luodai Ancient Town boasts a long history. The houses, courtyards and streets are built in the ancient style of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) in Luodai. Stroll around the old town. Transfer back to Chengdu in the late afternoon.

Day 11 Chengdu / Xian (B, L)

Following breakfast is a visit to the Giant Panda Breeding Base, one of the most important centers in China for the captive conservation of giant pandas. A sumptuous hot pot lunch will be served for you at the local popular restaurant. In the afternoon, take the flight to Xian. Meet your guide at the airport and transfer to 4-star Aurum International Hotel.

Day 12 Xian (B, L)

A full day tour recalls the glories of ancient Xian as you visit the burial site of an incredible army of 8,000 lifelike Terra-cotta soldiers. After lunch drive back to the city and visit the majestic Wild Goose Pagoda and Shaanxi History Museum.

Day 13 Xian / Shanghai (B, L)

In the morning, take the flight to Shanghai, the financial center in China. You are greeted with the tour guide at the airport and transferred to the 4-star Baron Business Hotel. Lunch will be arranged for you at a local best Shanghai cuisine restaurant. Proceed to visit the fascinating Yu Garden, a well-restored Suzhou-style garden, and take a walk through the Old Town filled with antique markets and specialty stores. Afterwards, visit Nanjing Road and The Bund, which is Shanghai's main shopping street and famous for its modern stores.

Day 14 Shanghai (B, L)

The whole day tour will bring you to visit the beautiful water town, Zhujiajiao village. Today you will enjoy the typical local food for lunch. Return back to Shanghai in the late afternoon.

Day 15 Shanghai (B)

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight and service concludes.